Ron Timus gets his share of ink

Express role player notable for tattoos and intensity.

Express role player notable for tattoos and intensity.

May 02, 2008|SCOTT DAVIDSON Tribune Staff Writer

ELKHART -- Ron Timus sports eight tattoos, all bearing motivational messages, and dreadlocks that would make Bob Marley proud. The Elkhart Express rookie also sports plenty of game on the hardwood. Timus has embraced his role, and thanks in large part to the selfless attitude and play of the high energy guard, the two-time defending International Basketball League champions have continued to roll. An athletic force off a deep bench, Timus has energized the Express engine in a 6-0 start. The Washington, D.C., native turned in a breakout game with 27 points in a 127-125 overtime win over Las Vegas last Friday. Prior to that, Timus had totaled 29 points in the first three games stateside (the Express also played a pair of games that counted during a trip to China last month). "I have no problem being a role player with this team,'' Timus said following practice Wednesday. "I'm here to fit in and help us win. We've got a great group of guys here who are all talented. "This is a good situation for me to be in. In fact, this is the best place I can be at right now. I just want the success to continue. I don't want it to be said that the Express won two titles and then didn't win one when Ron Timus came here.'' Timus has made his biggest mark on the defensive end. The electric 6-foot-5 high flyer knows what he needs to bring to the table for the Express to succeed. "Defense has always been a part of my game and we have a lot of offensive threats on this team,'' Timus said. "Scoring is not what they need from me. Defense is all heart and all about pride. "When I come in for a starter, I don't want there to be any letdown in our play. I'm here to keep the intensity up and take advantage of the opportunities I get.'' Timus also boasts an offensive arsenal. The speedy slasher averaged 28 points per game playing professionally in Norway before joining the Express this spring. He also earned second team All-MEAC honors following his final season at Morgan State. The former prep star at Woodrow Wilson High School ended up at Morgan State, where he played for Butch Beard and Todd Bozeman, after breaking his ankle at the end of a senior year in which he averaged 24 points and 11 rebounds per game. "I was sitting at home looking for jobs thinking my playing days were over,'' Timus said. "I ended up signing with Morgan State two weeks before school started. I feel everything happens for a reason and it worked out. Life is good and I've been blessed. I get paid to play basketball.'' Timus draws plenty of drive from his eye-catching collection of tattoos. The artwork includes a tribute to his late grandmother Barbara Foster, a huge influence on his life, as well as his favorite Bible verse (Philippians 4:13). The 23-year old sparkplug looks to play a key role again this weekend as the Express host Elgin (1-3) tonight and Holland (8-1) Saturday. Both games tip at 7:15 p.m. at North Side Gym. "The sky's the limit for this team if we continue to jell and mold together,'' Timus said. "We have the potential to win it all. We just can't get comfortable and can't have any fall off. Everyone is coming after us.''